Grenfell Fire Response News, Issue 1, June 24, 2017

24 June 2017
Issue No: 1

Grenfell Fire
Response News

The Grenfell Fire Response Team
was set up on Friday 16th June
to support people affected by
the fire. The team includes
London-wide local councils,
the Mayor of London, central
government, British Red Cross,
Metropolitan Police, London Fire
Brigade and many different local
and national voluntary groups.

John Barradell, Head
of the Team, said,

The thoughts of everyone
working for the Response
Team are with the friends
and family of all those who
have been affected, as well
as the local community. We
are doing all we can to bring
in additional support and
coordinate to help
local people who have
suffered so much, but know
we have so much more to
do and won’t let
up on our efforts.

As well as looking to deliver
much more and effective
practical and emotional
help, we are listening very
closely to the community
so they can direct help to
where it is needed most. I
would also like to take this
opportunity to pay enormous
tribute to the local people
and volunteers from the
neighbourhood and beyond
who have flocked to the
scene to help out in the
aftermath of the fire and we
are privileged to be working
alongside them.

What is this
newsletter for?

This is the first edition of
the Grenfell Response
Team newsletter. We
want to keep you up
to date with all the
latest information about
what is happening and
the services that are
available to help. If there
is anything you wish
to know, please speak
to one of the response
team who will be wearing
high viz jackets, talk to
staff at the assistance
centre or contact us by
phone or e-mail. All the
contact details are in this
newsletter. You can also
keep up with the latest
information about help
and support available at
www.gov.uk

For up to the minute info
please follow us on Twitter

@grenfellsupport

and on Facebook

at facebook.com/
grenfellsupport

Grenfell Fire Response News

24 June 2017

What help is
on offer?

If you come to the
Assistance Centre

at Westway Sports
Centre, Crowthorne
Road, W10 6RP you

will be able to access
services and support
provided by the team 24
hours a day.

A Red Cross helpline
is in action to help give
practical or emotional
support to anyone who
needs it.

The number is

0800 4589472.

This is available 24 hours
a day.

Any family and friends
concerned about
their loved ones are
asked to contact the
Metropolitan Police on
0800 032 4539

If you have been
affected and have any
other questions about
the support available,
please email support@
grenfellresponse.org

Please do not send any
personal data like bank
details or your address
to this email account -
rest assured when we
contact you, we’ll get
any additional information
we need.

What’s the latest with
rehousing people?

It is our priority to get people who have lost or can’t get
access to their homes in to good accommodation as soon
as possible. We have offered emergency hotel rooms in the
local area to everyone who needs it, to those people from
Grenfell Tower, Grenfell Walk and the cordon area.

Here’s the latest information about housing:

• In total there are 364 households in emergency
accommodation.

• 140 hotel placements have been made for people living in
Grenfell Tower and Grenfell Walk.

• There are also 109 additional households now in hotels
from the wider affected area.

• 137 keyworkers are supporting people affected.

We are now working with affected families to find longer
term properties. We start by understanding people’s needs
and then try to match them with the most suitable home.

We will only be offering homes in the Royal Borough of
Kensington and Chelsea and neighbouring boroughs, such
as Westminster.

• So far 146 assessments have been completed so we can
understand what each household or family needs and
then try to get the best property that suits them.

• Whilst all households should now have been contacted,
twenty one households from Grenfell Tower and Grenfell
Walk have not had their housing needs assessed yet. We
continue to work with families with the help of amazing
volunteers.

• Twenty eight viewings are taking place for families to look
at properties and for them to decide whether they are
suitable. If they like the property, they can move in.

• Sixty eight new build flats as part of the Kensington Road
development in the borough will be provided to re-house
residents from Grenfell Tower. These will be ready by the
end July 2017.

Grenfell Fire Response News

24 June 2017

Financial support for Grenfell
Tower residents

The government has
announced details of
the emergency £5 million
Grenfell Tower Residents’
Discretionary Fund for
households who have lost
their homes as a result of
the fire.

Every household whose home
has been destroyed as a
result of the fire will receive a
guaranteed £5,500 minimum
down payment from the
fund. This will be made up of
a £500 cash payment and
£5,000 delivered through
the Department of Work and
Pensions into bank accounts
or similar in a single payment.

The £500 cash payment has
already begun to be made
available to those affected
from the Westway Sports
Centre or through the Post
Office in Portobello Road -
including those who do not
have bank accounts.

The fund is also being
made available to meet
funeral costs, and to top
up payments for those
households with complex or
additional needs.

So far, £1,193,916 has been
distributed to affected families
and 97 households have been
given the £5,000 payment.

The government has set
up a dedicated benefit enquiry
line for people affected by

the fire at Grenfell Tower. The
following numbers will be
staffed between 8am and
6.30pm, Monday to Friday:

020 7941 6661
020 7941 6634
020 7941 6671

Help with bills

The Government and
utility companies have
announced a package of
support for Grenfell victims
across energy, water and
telecommunications. This
includes suppliers agreeing to
cancel outstanding utility bills
for victims of the fire.

Working with
community groups

We have been amazed and
humbled at the incredible
response from the community,
both locally and from much
further afield, and the support
they have given to people
in desperate need in the
aftermath of the fire. There’s
now a single point of contact
for voluntary and community
sector organisations that
wish to discuss community
engagement issues and
concerns. Please contact
this email address if you
would also like to be added
to the update bulletin:
Communityengagement@
grenfellresponse.org

Hot water update

A new temporary boiler
is also being fitted over
the weekend. Residents
will see this temporary
boiler being constructed
between the Hurstway
Walk and Testerton Walk
and on a hard standing
next to Whitchurch
Road. The construction
of the hoarding to
house this boiler will
commence tomorrow.

How can we help?

We are here to help
people with all the
support we can
offer. This means
everything from
getting bereavement
counselling, health
advice, what is
happening to people’s
post, signposting where
to get free legal advice
and many other practical
and emotional support
services that are on offer
to those affected by the
fire. If you are concerned
about someone and
don’t feel they are being
properly supported, then
please let us know so
we can help.

Grenfell Fire Response News

24 June 2017

Frequently asked questions

Are people in emergency
housing being put in
tower blocks?

No. People are being
temporarily housed in hotel
accommodation in or close
to the Royal Borough of
Kensington & Chelsea.

Are people living in
parks?

We are not aware of
anybody living in parks and
there is no need for people
to be living in parks. If you
know of someone who you
don’t think is getting help
then please let us know.

Are people been forced
out of the borough, or
being made intentionally
homeless?

This is simply not true.

No one is being forced to
move out of London, or
being threatened with being
made homeless. We’re
working to find the right
accommodation for those
affected residents, either in
Kensington and Chelsea or
neighbouring boroughs.

Are people affected by the
fire being asked for ID at
the assessment centre?

People affected by the fire
were issued letters informing
them of the process to
access funding and we have
asked them to show this
letter as some people may
have had their IDs destroyed

in the fire. This is to ensure
those who need support get
it. They should not be asked
for their ID.

Concerns about cyanide
released in the air from
the fire?

Public Health England
air quality tests over the
past week following the
Grenfell Tower fire shows no
detectable deterioration in air
quality. They have advised
that smoke from any fire
is toxic and can contain a
range of chemicals such as
carbon monoxide, hydrogen
cyanide, irritant gases such
as hydrogen chloride. The
amounts of toxic products
will vary with the materials
involved in a fire, its
temperature and the amount
of oxygen.

What will happen
to anyone who isn’t
documented but lived in
the tower?

We will not use this tragic
incident as a reason to carry
out immigration checks on
those involved and those
providing vital information
to identify victims. We will
also make sure that all
victims, irrespective of their
immigration status, will be
able to access the services
they need, including
accommodation and
healthcare.

Bereavement

support

Freephone helpline 0808
808 1677

24 hours a day.

helpline@cruse.org.uk

Replacement UK
passports, visas
or immigration
queries

0300 222 0000

(outside the UK

+ 44 ( 0)300 222 0000 )

24 hour advice line

Air quality and
smoke exposure

People who have
concerns about any
symptoms should seek
medical advice

or call NHS 111.

More to come on air quality
in tomorrow’s update

NHS Mental health
support

0800 0234 650

24 hours a day.

cnw-tr.spa@nhs.net

VICTIM SUPPORT

Free emotional and
practical support
for anyone affected.

08081689 111

24 hours a day.

victimsupport.org.uk